Lisa turned and saw him supporting the fragile form of a young woman. “Who’s this?”
“This is Mpho, the girl I told you about earlier. Rebecca’s granddaughter.” He looked down at the girl in question and frowned. “She’s hurt. Where’s Jonathan?”
“He’s on guard duty, but I’ll see if I can help.”
“Please.” Michael helped Mpho onto a bed and pointed at her feet. “There.”
Lisa examined Mpho’s swollen and cut feet and clucked while she cleaned them. “What did you do? This must hurt a bunch.”
“It’s not so bad,” Mpho demurred.
“She came to warn us,” Michael said.
Lisa glanced up at him. “Oh? Do tell.”
He relayed the story in simple terms, and Lisa’s eyes narrowed when he got to the bit about Kabelo.
“Kabelo? So he’s alive? That son of a bitch. I’ll kill him with my bare hands, I swear.”
“You won’t have to,” Mpho replied. “Ke Tau took care of him.”
“How so?”
“He was fed to the infected. Alive.”
Lisa waited for a feeling of satisfaction, even triumph, to take hold. Neither did. Instead, she felt nothing but sorrow for the boy.
“He mentioned you at the end,” Mpho said.
Lisa looked up in surprise. “He did?”
Mpho nodded and repeated Kabelo’s last words. “I believe he regretted his actions.”
“As he should,” Lisa replied brusquely, but a small part of her cried for him. He should have stayed, and I should’ve been more open to him. Maybe if I had tried harder…
Regrets were empty, though, and Lisa pushed them aside with resolution. “Why did Ke Tau kill him? He was one of them.”
“He was a coward, allowing himself to be held captive by a mere woman.”
Lisa’s eyebrows lifted. “Really?”
Mpho grinned. “Ke Tau’s words, not mine. I’d never underestimate the female sex, especially not you.”
Lisa found herself smiling back. “You’re not so bad yourself. Running all the way here in the middle of the night with no shoes and only a steak knife to defend yourself? That took guts.”
“We’ll need it when he attacks tonight,” Mpho said, wincing when Lisa pulled a thorn from her soles with a pair of tweezers.
“So he’s coming?” Lisa asked. “Today’s the day?”
Michael nodded. “Max has called a meeting in the common room. Everyone has to attend.”
Lisa nodded as she finished wrapping Mpho’s feet in bandages. “I’ll be there. I just need to make sure Lonny is settled.”
“How’s he doing?” Michael asked.
“Not too good. He’s hurt, and it’ll take time for him to heal. He won’t be fighting with us tonight.”
Mpho got onto her feet, and gingerly stepped on her dressed feet. “Thank you, Lisa. See you at the meeting?”
“Five minutes,” Lisa agreed.
The duo left, and Lisa stood for a long moment, thinking of the day to come. She was scared, no doubt about it. The thought of losing and falling into the hands of Ke Tau and his men churned her stomach. I won’t let them take me alive. I won’t.
This resolution calmed her somewhat, and she thought of the children. Meghan, Anne, Mark, and Jenny. Even Ruby and Michelle. I can’t, no, I won’t, let them be captured. Before it gets to that, I’ll take care of them myself.
After checking one final time that Lonny was sleeping soundly, she let herself out and walked toward the dining area. She stepped inside and paused when she surveyed the crowded room.
A queue lined the serving counter, and her stomach rumbled when a whiff of eggs and sausage hit her nostrils. She picked up a plate and cutlery, joining the row behind Sharyn.
“Hi,” she greeted.
“Hello,” Sharyn replied with a hesitant smile.
“Food smells good,” Lisa said in an attempt to make conversation with a woman she knew little about. They’d never had the occasion to talk before. Naturally, she’d seen Sharyn and her husband Nick around, but that was the extent of her knowledge.
“Yes, it does.”
“Elise sure knows how to cook.”
“Indeed.”
Sharyn’s manner seemed forced, and Lisa dropped the subject. Instead, she averted her gaze and looked at everyone assembled. They were all there. The entire camp. Even the children and dogs. All except for Abe and Joseph who kept watch during the meal, and Michael, Mpho, and Max. I wonder where they went?
Even as she thought this, Max entered, followed by a freshly washed and dressed couple in the form of Michael and Mpho. They took their place in line, and for the next few minutes, everybody seemed intent on one task only: Breakfast.
Lisa reached the head of the queue and was faced with a harassed looking Elise. The woman’s blonde hair was scraped back in a bun and her apron stained with who knows what. Still, Lisa was glad to see her. “Morning, Elise. Do you need any help?”
“Oh, no, dear. Thank you for asking, but I’ll manage.” Elise dished up a spoonful of scrambled eggs, followed by fried tomato and onions, maize porridge, and a homemade venison sausage. “Coffee and tea are over there. I put out the last of the powdered milk and sugar as well, so help yourself.”
“Thanks, but what’s the occasion?” Lisa asked as she eyed her plate. It was the kind of food they hadn’t had in ages. Eggs were scarce, as was fresh vegetables, and the last sugar and powdered milk? Wow.
“I’d rather not say,” Elise replied. “Max will fill you in soon enough.”
Lisa realized the feast was in honor of the forthcoming fight, probably to boost morale. She forced a smile, and said, “Thank you, Elise, and I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Elise looked perplexed at the apology.
“For being such a bitch to you.”
Elise shook her head with sadness stamped all over her features. “Don’t be silly. You were right. I should’ve listened to you.”
Lisa shook her head, disturbed by the broken look on the older woman’s face. She opened her mouth to reply, but the moment passed when an impatient Peter and Thembiso pressed in for their food. With leaden feet, she found a seat and picked at her food. It no longer seemed all that tasty.
She forced herself to eat every morsel, however. In the fight to come, she’d need the energy to sustain her. Afterward, she took her plate back and poured herself a cup of sweetened tea, hot and black just as she liked it. This she nursed while waiting for the rest to sort themselves out.
Lisa noticed the moment when Max called Peter and Thembiso. The two friends had wolved down their food in record time and even gone back for seconds. Now they were fresh and eager to please.
“Peter, Thembiso,” Max called.
They jogged over. “Yes, Max?”
“I want you to relieve Abe and Joseph on the walls. Send them here so they can have breakfast as well.”
“Okay,” they chorused.
“I’m counting on you to keep us safe, got it? It’ll be just the two of you for at least an hour. Can you handle it?”
“Yes, Sir.” Comically, they saluted the bemused Max.
“And boys, don’t try to be heroes. If you see anything suspicious, I want you to run straight back here.”
They bounded off, as eager as puppies, and not long after, Abe and Joseph entered the room. Elise dished up for them, and they took their seats while Julianne went about clearing the room of dirty dishes.
She press-ganged the children into washing up in the kitchen under the supervision of Michelle and Ruby, and the group trooped out amidst promises of sweets as a reward for their hard work. That left only those who would attend the meeting, and Lisa sat up straighter.
The room was abuzz with speculation as everybody wondered what the decadent breakfast was for. What could be so important, that even the walls were abandoned except for a single pair of guards in the form of two teenage boys? And who were the strangers? Not everybody was familiar with eith
er Mpho or Ruby.
Max stood up and cleared his throat. “Right, I guess you are all wondering why I called you here.”
Murmurs of assent rose.
“It’s simple. This morning, I received information to the effect that Ke Tau is attacking us in full force. Tonight.”
Wild chatter broke out, and he had to wait a full minute before peace was restored. A few lingering voices called out questions.
“Why tonight?”
“What do we do?”
“Can we fight them off?”
“Where’s Breytenbach?”
Max raised a hand. “If you’ll allow me, I’ll tell you everything and answer all your questions, but you have to let me talk first.”
Silence fell.
Max cleared his throat, and in a somber voice, relayed everything he knew. As he spoke, the mood in the room changed. It went from excited, to restless, to shocked, and finally, dismayed. He ended with the news that nobody knew where Breytenbach was or why they hadn’t returned.
In the corner, Julianne lowered her head. She, more than anyone there except Max, missed the Captain and the members of his group.
“I think it’s safe to assume we’re in this fight alone. We can’t count on Breytenbach to return in time to help us,” Max said. “We’re on our own.”
The words echoed through the room like the thud of the final nail sinking into a coffin, sealing all their fates. Lisa closed her eyes. The news didn’t frighten her. She didn’t want to rely on anybody but herself. It would make her stronger, and she’d fight all the harder for it.
She listened with half an ear while Max laid out the plans. Michelle and Ruby were too weak and inexperienced to fight. They’d look after the children inside the schoolroom along with the two young mothers, Erica and Tumi. Hannah, Dave, Dr. Lange, and Jonathan would run the infirmary and take care of any casualties. As the only medical personnel, they were too valuable to risk.
There was some debate over Peter and Thembiso. Neither Elise nor Julianne wanted them to take part, but the boys were nearly grown and well-trained. In the end, Max gave each the role of runner. They’d be used to relay information.
“That leaves only a few others I’m worried about,” Max concluded. “Elise, Julianne, Abraham, Phillip, and Ben.”
“What about me?” Ben asked in his gravelly voice. “I can fight.”
“So can I,” Abraham said, raising a stick-thin arm in the air.
“And I,” Phillip said, placing a hand on Abraham’s shoulders. “I’d never let my friend here fight alone.”
“Aren’t you two a bit old?” Abe protested.“
“I might be old, but I bet I could still teach you young ones a few things, son,” Abraham replied with a chuckle.
“Count me in,” Elise said.
“And me,” Julianne added.
“Are you sure?” Max asked.
“Yes,” they chorused.
“Good. We’ll need as many hands on deck as possible.”
After that, the meeting descended into a back and forth on weapons, tactics, food, water, and positioning. Mpho insisted that Ke Tau would most likely lead the attack with a swarm of undead, just like before. It was a favored method of his, and much of the discussion centered around this.
It was decided two snipers would be placed in the tower, both to keep a bird’s eye view of everything and to provide back-up to those below. Liezel and Abe were chosen for this job. Both were excellent long-range shots.
“The outer wall can’t be defended for long,” Michael asserted. “We’re too few. We should concentrate our forces on the inner walls, especially the main gate.”
“Yes, but we mustn’t forget about the smaller gate either,” Max said. “We need a force stationed there as well.
“What about the goats, and the reserve?” Elise asked. “We can’t afford to lose either.”
“Herd the goats into the reserve for now,” Joseph suggested. “I’ll build an earthen wall to barricade it off from the rest of the farm. I can do the same with the smaller gate.”
“Do you have enough time?” Max asked.
“With a few helping hands, yes.”
A couple of hands raised as people volunteered to help.“All right. That’s decided. As for the rest of you, get some rest. Report to the armory at three to get your kit. You’ll be given instructions then.”
With that, the meeting was closed, and people hurried off to do their jobs. The last to leave, Lisa wondered what part she’d play in the struggle to come. It didn’t matter, though. Win or lose; a few people are gonna be sorry they ever saw my face tonight.
Chapter 19 - Julianne
Julianne fled the meeting with tears burning to be shed. She bit on her fist to keep the sobs from escaping her lips and mumbled excuses to everyone in her path. Her legs sped up to a sprint toward the cottage she shared with Breytenbach, Meghan, and Sam.
She burst inside and paused, heaving for breath. It was just as she’d left it. As he’d left it. The bed they shared at night, safe in each other’s arms. His spare boots and clothes in the cupboard next to hers, the book of poetry he liked her to read aloud at night, and the reading glasses he wore when no one could see.
She fell onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow, breathing in his scent. Alone, at last, she let go of the fears that had kept her up the previous night. The terror that crept into her heart whenever she thought of never seeing Breytenbach again. “Christo, where are you?”
The room had no answers for her.
Unhampered by the need to appear strong, Julianne allowed herself to cry until she had no more tears left. Finally, the shaking stopped and the floodgates closed. When she was reduced to a few sniffles, she sat upright and stared at her hands.
They weren’t soft anymore. Not like they used to be. The nails were chipped and broken, devoid of polish or shine. Calluses from wielding a pitchfork and shovel lined her palms. The skin was rough and weathered.
On impulse, she went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She hadn’t done so in a while. The sight was startling. Despite her puffy eyed appearance, her skin was smooth and tanned. Laughter lines winged from her eyes to her temples while grey streaks mingled with the blonde in her hair. She looked older, yet stronger. Harder.
I’m not a lady anymore, not manicured or pedicured or tweezed to perfection. I’m a woman now. A fighter. A worker. “Just like my hands.”
Julianne turned and walked to the second bedroom. Here she lingered, taking in the sight of Samantha’s crib and Meghan’s single bed, both littered with stuffed toys and colored blocks.
Whether Breytenbach came back or not, she still had the children. She’d always have Sam and Meghan to look after. She couldn’t afford to break down and lose hope. Not now. “They need me, and Christo would expect me to look after them.”
With the decision to fight for her freedom and that of her children made, Julianne got ready for the ordeal to come. She washed her face and tied her hair into a tight bun before slipping on a pair of cargo pants made of sturdy material. Comfortable boots, a tank top, and a zipper jacket completed the ensemble.
Into her pockets, she slipped a flashlight, pocket knife, protein bar, and a bottle of water. Onto her belt, she looped the holster containing her pistol, a combat knife, and a length of sharpened steel with a leather handle made especially for her by Christo. It was her weapon of choice and very effective against infected. How well it would stand up against the living was a different story.
With a final look of farewell, she closed the door behind her and jogged to the infirmary. There she encountered Hannah and Dave laying out medical supplies and readying beds. Jonathan and Dr. Lange attended to the still unconscious Lonny, disinfecting his wounds.“Do you need any help?”
Hannah shot her a gentle smile and shook her head. “No, we’re all right, Julianne. Ben’s on his way to fortify the windows and doors. Other than that, we have everything in hand.”
“Are you a
rmed?”
“No, we’re not.”
“You should be, just in case. I’ll get Max to send over a couple of guns with ammunition.”
“Thank you.”
With the infirmary ticked off her to-do list, Julianne made her way to the main building where Elise was putting away the last of their food and water supplies. Everything except for a full trolley that stood ready to go.
“Is this for the wall?” she asked.
Elise nodded. “I’m closing up here and taking it there now. Ideally, I want supplies stashed at regular intervals all along the inner walls. Who knows how long this fight will last?”
“True. Want some company?”
“Actually, would you mind checking on the children? I know they’re safe but…”
“I get it, no need to explain. I was going to check on them anyway,” Julianne replied. “See you on the wall?”
“On the wall,” Elise affirmed.
Julianne made her way to the schoolroom. Ben had already been there, and she was gratified to see the windows had been boarded up and the door reinforced with thick steel.
Inside was a scene of domestic tranquility. Meghan, Anne, and Jenny played dress-up in the corner while Mark pushed around a plastic firetruck. Sam chewed on a colored wooden block with Ruby hovering over her like a mother hen. In a crib slept Henriette and Thabo, while Buzz and Princess dozed on a blanket in a corner.
Overseeing the room was Michelle, Erica, and Tumi. A crate of food and water stood in the corner, and the building had its own compost toilet. Each of them was armed with both a gun and a knife which was a comfort to Julianne. They were as safe as could be expected.
Meghan squealed when she saw her mother and ran over. “Mommy, Mommy!”
“Hi, sweetie. How’s it going?”
“We’re playing Princesses and Mermaids. I’m the Princess of course,” Meghan said with evident pride.
Julianne laughed. “As long as you let Anne and Jenny have a turn too, sweetie. Don’t hog the crown.”
“Why not?”
“Because real Princesses aren’t selfish or mean.”
Meghan wrinkled her nose. “All right, if you say so.”
“I do.” Julianne kissed her on the brow. “Now you be good, you hear me? Do what Michelle tells you, no matter what.”
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